New Multi-herb Mixture, HT005, Induces Longitudinal Bone Growth in Male Rats

Abstract

Objectives : It was investigated new herbal prescription HT005 supported by traditional Korean medicine has a activity on the longitudinal bone growth of rats. HT005 were consisted of the root of Angelica sinensis, the fruit of Alpinia oxyphylla, the root of Astragalus membranaceus, the stem of Eleutherococcus senticosus, and the root of Dioscorea japonica, and Poria cocos. Method : To investigate the effect on longitudinal bone growth in adolescent male Sprague-Dawley rats, the longitudinal length of growth plate was measured directly by the tetracycline fluorescent labeling method and chondrocyte staining method. HT005 administered orally for four days, and the tetracycline was injected twice on the growth plate of the animals for fluorescent dying. The rate of longitudinal bone growth was measured the length between the tetracycline bands which fixed on the 3rd day and 5th day after injection. Cresyl violet was also used to stain the chondrocytes in the growth plate. The length of growth plate after administration was compared. Expression of IGF-1 and BMP-2 in the growth plate was investigated by immunohistochemistry. Results : HT005 showed a significant longitudinal bone growth which was at the dose of 100 mg/kg and (p (p (p at the dose of 10 mg/kg compared to the control group by cresyl-violet staining method. Both the number and intensity of BMP-2 and IGF-1 positive cells were increased in the hypertrophic zone of growth plate. There was a significant correlation between BMP-2 and IGF-1 expression and heights of chondrocytes in growth plate. Conclusions : Treatment of HT005 on Sprague-Dawley rats markedly increased the longitudinal bone growth. Therefore, HT005 may be an alternative herbal source to growth hormone as it promotes bone growth in children afflicted by growth retardation.